Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have adopted the landmark Bishkek Declaration, reaffirming their commitment to regional security, cooperation and coordinated action against terrorism.
The declaration was signed during the 26th SCO Summit in Bishkek, hosted by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov. The summit brought together leaders from the organisation’s member states and partner countries to discuss pressing regional and global challenges.
Addressing the summit, Prime Minister Modi called for a united and uncompromising approach towards terrorism. He stressed that the international community must work to dismantle the entire ecosystem supporting terrorism, including terror financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens. He also maintained that there should be no double standards in the fight against terrorism and warned against treating terrorism as a strategic tool.
Modi said peace and security remain a key pillar of India’s vision for the SCO, alongside connectivity and opportunity. He also highlighted the importance of stability in Afghanistan for a peaceful Eurasian region and reiterated India’s commitment to humanitarian and development assistance for the Afghan people.
The Prime Minister further pointed to the wider impact of conflicts, particularly on energy security, maritime trade and global supply chains. He said countries of the Global South often face the greatest consequences from such disruptions and reiterated India’s position that lasting solutions to conflicts should come through dialogue and diplomacy.
Drug trafficking and organised crime were also highlighted as serious regional security challenges. Modi called for stronger cooperation through SCO mechanisms dealing with narcotics, organised crime, information security and other transnational threats.
Beyond security, India emphasised the importance of people-to-people ties, economic opportunities and connectivity. Modi said SCO cooperation should deliver tangible benefits for young people, entrepreneurs and farmers by opening markets, improving access to technology and creating new opportunities.
The adoption of the Bishkek Declaration marks an important moment for the SCO as it continues to strengthen its role in addressing security, economic and connectivity challenges across Eurasia. For India, the summit provided an important platform to push for collective action against terrorism while advancing a broader vision of a secure, connected and prosperous region.